Occurrence of plant viruses on pepper cultivated in open fields in R. Macedonia and partial characterization of cucumber mosaic virus isolates

Abstract

Screening of pepper plants cultivated in open fields for the presence of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV) and potato virus Y (PVY) in the Republic of Macedonia was performed by DAS-ELISA from 2012 to 2014. During the tested period, the predominant infection was by CMV, ranging from 34 to 61% of the tested samples, followed in 2012 by AMV and in 2013 and 2014 by PVY. Molecular detection and identification of CMV on selected pepper leaf samples was done by Reverse Transcription – Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) and sequencing of the coat protein (CP) gene. Genetic relationships of the 18 CMV isolates generated in this study were compared with isolates from other parts of the world. Phylogenetic analysis was conducted, based on the partial sequences of the CP gene. In the constructed phylogenetic tree, all of the 18 Macedonian CMV isolates were clustered in the IA subgroup.